Dinkoff Architects' Taichung Cultural Center is a green-roofed, solar-powered complex that stores excess energy to meet the lighting and air-conditioning requirements of its two buildings - a fine arts museum and a public library. The building echoes the materiality of the region’s abandoned runways and mimics the skid marks left by the tires of landing aircraft.

The project’s green building strategy is centered around three components: a green roof, a solar power array, and the building’s elongated shape. A garden partly covers the roof of the library, providing insulation and a beautiful public space for visitors to enjoy. Solar panels cover the remainder of the library’s roof and the entire museum roof, providing energy for both buildings. Excess energy is stored in batteries located below the garage in the mechanical room. The building’s elongated shape takes advantage of differing pressure zones to create a natural breeze.

The buildings have a small footprint that accounts for less than 30 percent of the entire site. The rest of the plot is dedicated to water features and green zones. A large shaded plaza separates the buildings while creating a cool place to relax. A light breeze constantly cools the space, creating a pleasant link between the two cultural programs.